Truckload Of Supplies Bound For Afghanistan

OTHER VIEWS

Hundreds of Central Floridians did something really special a few months ago to bolster U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Those efforts have not been forgotten.

Individuals and groups, children to senior citizens, responded to an idea pitched by the men's group of New Hope United Methodist Church in Orlando and collected a truckload of supplies to benefit the Florida National Guard's 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. The unit is based at armories in Melbourne, Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach. Its members come from all over Florida, including Orlando.

The idea was the brainchild of Orlando businessman David Cox, as a salute to his buddy David Matthews of Winter Springs, a member of that outfit, whose members were retrained to serve as military police.

The supplies, enough to stock a discount store, have been in Cox's garage since May. The church group has been waiting to get a reliable address in Afghanistan to send the supplies. They finally got it. This week the group will begin shipping out the supplies, which include everything from notepads to batteries. People also donated nearly $6,000, which will be used to pay for shipping.

Members of that group gathered last Saturday to pack the goods for shipment. They had a special guest on hand to help them pack -- Sgt. David Matthews, inspiration for the project. Matthews is home because he was injured in Afghanistan in a vehicle wreck that killed one of his buddies.

Matthews came to the packing party to thank the volunteers and the people who donated the goods. "You don't know how much this will be appreciated," he said.

The conditions he described in Afghanistan are severe. "The sand over there is like baby powder. It gets all over everything, and it's like 20 percent fecal matter. It gets all over everything. Every fifth breath you have to wash your hands."

So Matthews was particularly happy to see how many people donated hand sanitizing wipes and liquid. He said soldiers can never have enough personal hygiene supplies, such as toothpaste, soap and shampoo. But he also said it's crucial to donate the small-size containers that can be stowed easily in the pockets of their fatigues. While many Americans debate the merits of the war in Iraq, few question the justification for U.S. operations in Afghanistan to stamp out the Taliban extremists who hosted Osama bin Laden's operation that launched the 9-11 attacks. Yet, here in the States we don't hear much about the fighting in Afghanistan, where 17,000 U.S. troops are stationed. As of Tuesday morning, 95 Americans have been killed there.

The Taliban "are still out there . . . . They still attack and fire mortars at us," said Matthews, who works in sales at an Orlando resort hotel when he is not on military duty. He previously served nine years in the military and got out in 1991. He re-enlisted at age 40 after the 9-11 terror attacks.

Matthews said U.S. forces are braced for an escalation in fighting this fall, when Afghanistan is scheduled to hold free elections. He said the Taliban are trying to disrupt those elections by "killing on sight" any Afghan people who have a voter-registration card.

The drive to support the Florida National Guard unit has not ended. Supplies and donations can be sent to New Hope United Methodist Church, 406 E. Amelia St., Orlando, Fla., 32803, or for more information, contact David Cox at dcox18@lone-palm.net.